After two solid minutes of tug-of-war, Ellen still had her teeth gritted, refusing to budge an inch.
"If I can't touch it, fine. But at least let's sit down and chat?" Sol sighed helplessly. He knew a forced melon was never sweet, so he gave up pressing further.
"…Alright." Ellen hesitated, then finally agreed. She sat cautiously beside Sol, tail tucked tightly behind her.
After all, he was still holding Baal in his arms. He couldn't possibly try anything excessive, right?
"Good. Since you're sitting… then let me touch your tail."
Sol revealed his true intentions.
"…I knew it." Ellen said weakly. "No means no. You can talk all day, and it's still no."
Never—not in her wildest thoughts—had she imagined letting a man touch her tail.
Even if Sol was a VIP of Victoria Housekeeping. Even if he was her friend. Absolutely not.
Sol sighed. "Guess our friendship is fake, then. Ruby and the others can touch it, but I can't."
That was his joy for the day. And if he couldn't have it, well—today was no longer joyful.
No wonder Aha roamed the universe seeking fun—joy was rare indeed.
But if he did manage to touch it, Sol figured he'd be happy for the whole day.
"You're not the same. Ruby and the others are girls." Ellen was helpless. Right now, Sol was being more childish than her—downright spoiled. "If you were a girl, I'd let you touch it right now."
Since childhood, only five people had ever touched her tail: Rina, Corin, Ruby, Lynn, and Monna.
No men. Not a single one. Not even an extra girl beyond those five.
"Then I'm a girl now. Let me touch it."
Sol pressed on, undeterred.
"You're obviously a guy. Anyone can see that!"
Ellen almost collapsed.
This man really had no shame—spouting nonsense so seriously.
"And what gives you the right to assume my gender?"
Sol glared indignantly.
Anger. Trembling. Cold rage. When will the LGBT finally rise up!?
"…" Ellen tilted her head, a question mark practically hanging over it. "???"
Seeing Sol so righteous, Ellen couldn't help but doubt—Wait, is Sol actually a girl?
Baal watched with great interest, curious to hear what kind of world-shattering nonsense Sol would say next.
Looking her straight in the eye, Sol declared, "Biologically I'm male. Psychologically, I'm female. But I like women. So, I'm a lesbian. Which means, right now, I am a girl. Now can I touch your tail?"
"Ah?"
Ellen's jaw dropped.
She had no words.
Each part of that statement made sense… but put together, it was utterly absurd.
Her shark tail swayed slightly, as if saying: What in the hell!?
"…Impressive."
Baal gave Sol a discreet thumbs-up.
Truly criminal.
If this had been during her reign in Inazuma, guys like him would've all been jailed.
But now that she'd fallen, there was no one to punish Sol.
Who knew that outside of Teyvat, such… abstract ideologies had evolved?
"…Are you serious?"
After a long silence, Ellen finally asked in a daze.
"Just take it as a joke."
Even Sol was embarrassed now.
He felt awkward enough cracking jokes—how did those people marching around with placards manage it with a straight face?
Truly ruthless. Willing to toss away all shame for a cause.
"…Forget it." Ellen's cheeks turned pink, her voice barely above a whisper. "Since you went that far… I'll let you touch my tail."
It was obvious—Sol really, really wanted to touch it.
If he could spout nonsense like that, might as well let him have a quick touch.
"Really?" Sol asked suspiciously.
"Of course." Ellen's eyes darted away, her voice shaky. "But only once!"
As she spoke, she stretched just the very tip of her tail toward him.
He could touch that—but not any higher.
"Then I won't hold back."
Sol reached for the chubby shark tail and pressed down.
Soft. Warm. Surprisingly dry. The texture was… extremely pleasant.
"…"
Ellen's eyes locked on the floor, as if trying to burn a hole through it.
The instant Sol's hand landed, a searing wave ran through her.
Her heart skipped. Then raced. Her face flushed hot in an instant, warmth she could even feel radiating outward.
Her emotions stirred, and her tail trembled faintly.
Her tail—being stroked by Sol—sent ticklish ripples like feathers brushing her heart. Both flustered and shy, she froze completely.
So much so that she forgot to pull it back.
Ellen blushed, her whole face crimson, drowning in embarrassment.
Sol blushed too, energy surging with delight.
Nicole blushed as well—rage boiling in her chest.
"Sol~ could you please take your hands off that Shark-Thiren maid's tail?"
Nicole growled through clenched teeth.
Her face flushed red, chest practically swelling a size bigger.
Her cheeks burned scarlet, yet in her head she felt only green.
All she needed now was a splash of yellow—then the traffic light would be complete.